In the midst of the Republican Presidential primaries, more than 250 of the nation’s mayors will convene in Washington, D.C. next week for the 80th Winter Meeting of The U.S. Conference of Mayors at the Capital Hilton Hotel.
The mayors will meet with Administration officials to push for a bipartisan agenda that confronts the double-digit unemployment plaguing much of Main Street America, and challenge Congress to act on job creation, transportation and public safety. The mayors will also express disappointment that Washington is not listening to the needs of the nation’s Metro regions, which have thus far been absent from the presidential debates. Highlighting the session will be the release of an economic report with 2012 employment forecasts, followed by an official address from USCM President Mayor Villaraigosa on The State of America’s Cities, and then a reception at the White House.
Confirmed Speakers for the conference include numerous mayors from across the country as well as Administration officials such as Secretaries Kathleen Sebelius (Health and Human Services), Hilda Solis (Labor), Shaun Donovan (HUD), Arne Duncan (Education), Ray LaHood (Transportation), and Tom Vilsack (Agriculture).
Some of Washington’s elected officials will speak as well, including Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA), Congressman Barney Frank (MA).
Also slated to attend are Huffington Post Editor-in-Chief Arianna Huffington and NYT Columnist Thomas Friedman